The first member of Bergara’s Performance Series B-14 bolt-action rifles, the Timber, hit the market in 2015. It made a big impact, too, because the gun came with touches from the company’s custom shop—acknowledged for its fine craftsmanship—in a gentle blend with today’s tight manufacturing tolerances. The combination feels and runs like a custom.
The only thing missing was a painful price tag. The Timber’s MSRP came in at $950 at the time and included everything enthusiasts desired, a fact American Rifleman noted 6 years ago. The bargain’s even better today, though, because those oil-finished Monte Carlo walnut-stocked models in .243 Win., 6.5 mm Creedmoor, .270 Win., ,308 Win. .30-’06 Sprg. or .300 Win. Mag. cost $5 less. Barrel lengths are 20", 22" or 24", depending on chambering and the finely tuned rifles feature a two-lug bolt with a sliding plate extractor.
A Hunter version of the B-14 was introduced at the same time, but it wore a synthetic stock. Interestingly, its price has gone up $20 from its initial MSRP of $825. It’s a still a bargain, nonetheless, with a stock constructed from glass-reinforced polymer fiber and list of chamberings that expands to also include .22-250 Rem., 7 mm-08 Rem. and 7 mm Rem. Mag.
The pair received a warm welcome from enthusiasts and Bergara wisely expanded the B-14 line. Today in centerfires, all drilled and tapped for popular Remington 700-style bases, the company also offers a tack-driving Bergara Match Precision (BMP), Hunting and Match Rifle (HMR) and Ridge. MSRPs, respectively, come in at $1,265, $1,230 and either $865 or $945 (depending on chambering).
The configurations and chamberings are staggering, but there’s also a Wilderness series of B-14s with four models currently available. Rimfire fans haven’t been ignored either. The B-14R Steel and B-14R Carbon were originally chambered exclusively in .22 Long Rifle, but this year's models in .17 HMR and .22 WMR are available. They are also tapped for Remington 700 mounts and MSRPs are $1,150 and $1,245. Also available in 2021 are left-handed versions of either of the .22 LR-chambered guns.
